Project LJ - Just Getting Started Jeep Wrangler Unlimited LJ TJ Restoration Rock Crawler Build

In this video I go over the 2005 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited LJ I recently purchased. I talk about why I sold Project ZJ, how the LJ looked when I got it, issues we'll need to fix, and mods we plan to make. Some of the mods include Iron Rock Off Road long arm suspension, Tom Woods custom driveshafts, Goliath Offroad bumper, and Gatekeeper Off-road armor. Be sure to subscribe because there will be MANY for videos on this rig. Also, follow ProjectLJ on Instagram.

[@1tadmanian]

I also in the middle of a 05 LJ manual build working similar issues. I chose to stay with 15" wheels but found a set of Hutchison Rock Monster at an unbelievable price on 35" Cooper Pros. Great setup

[@ryan.vision]

I like 15s on 35s, plenty of sidewall for the rocks! What width did you go with on the wheels? My last project I used 15x8 and that worked really well to keep the bead set offroad at 10 psi. Thinking I'll do the same size again. Only thing is you have to decrease pressure on the road to get them to wear evenly.

[@tylerapple5054]

Excited for this build! My dad and I watched every episode of the ZJ series after I bought one for my first rig when I was 15, and built from there! I won’t be able to relate to the vehicle much since I’ve never had a wrangler but I love seeing this being built by a channel I enjoy!

[@ryan.vision]

Right on man how's your ZJ project going? Glad you and your dad enjoy the channel together!!

[@tylerapple5054]

RYANVISION the build is kind of at a stand still, but I’m looking at getting back on it, soon. It’s still on the old IRO LA setup with 33’s but part of me wants to keep going with it and take it higher

[@allwhowander78]

I've recently decided to purchase an LJ after having a TJ and then a JKU. I'm a couple of years away from actually getting one so I'm exited to see how you build this beauty! ~ perfect timing ~

[@ryan.vision]

LJ is definitely the perfect mix of TJ and JKU!! Glad to be of service!!

[@Starlite123]

I have E-Lockers on my ZJ and i love them. No air leaks no air compressor noise. Just push the button and on push button off.

[@ryan.vision]

Did you go with Eaton or which brand? I'm leaning toward e-lockers for these exact reasons.

[@Starlite123]

@@ryan.vision Eaton ive put lots of trails on them and they keep working flawlessly.

[@Starlite123]

@@ryan.vision I heard you talk about a doubler. I have a Klune-V and i like it. So low its kinda hard to use in low low...

[@davidmatthews1574]

I just purchased a 2006 LJ Unlimited Rubicon. VERY clean. I am also going with the Iron Rock longarm upgrade. I just ordered my kit

[@ryan.vision]

Nice!! It's a huge shipment of many large/heavy boxes!! They've been sitting in my garage begging me to install them but I still need to do some cleanup work first. Getting very close.

[@NarrowRoadAdventures]

I went from two ZJs to an LJ then back to a ZJ. I suspect you’ll come back around 😂 They’re both great platforms and good fun. Enjoying following both builds.👍

[@ryan.vision]

Funny you mention that because I thought about buying the ZJ back. Didn't want to cut this project short though. I think it'll be a fun rig when it's all dialed like the ZJ was.

[@NarrowRoadAdventures]

RYANVISION Right. Takes time to get them dialed in to fit your personal needs. For us it was deciding to start a family and needing 4 doors. JKUs were out of our budget, XJs in our area are rust buckets (or will become), found the ZJ with 50k miles so back into a ZJ I go!

[@Shift1dwn5up]

If you havent fixed your random misfire and you tried everything else try to replace the crank sensor.These jeeps are known for this.I had same issue.Jeep ran great replace everything relating to the problem and still did it,threw a cps in it and it idles and runs wayy better

[@ryan.vision]

Appreciate the heads up! Been hearing that too, but think I got mine squared away. After doing new coil, new plugs, and new throttle position sensor, I still had the issue. I felt like it was fuel related. Ran the tank down really low, then poured a few cans of seafoam into the gas tank. I pretty much ran the Jeep on seafoam for a few days hahaha but I kid you not, the thing started purring like a kitten!! Idle smoothed out, check engine light went away, passed smog no problem, and haven't had an issue since. I suspect the injectors were gummed up from crappy gas or not being driven much by the previous owner. I now only put high quality fuel in it and hopefully that'll keep things clean in the fuel system.

[@kennyallen1525]

I’m so glad your doing another project! I miss the zj but this looks like a great project!

[@mclehed77]

Dude welcome back to jeeping😁 A little part of me died when u mentioned u sold the zj, but I'm looking forward to seeing all the fun stuff that ur gonna do with the LJ

[@ryan.vision]

I know man.. I miss the ZJ a lot!! I think the LJ is gonna be a fun project though.

[@mclehed77]

@@ryan.vision kool man can't wait

[@philipnelson1104]

You should think about getting some metalcloak fenders, metalcloak dual rate springs and a poison spyder stubby bumper

[@felixvargas4112]

Welcome back! This will be a super fun project! Looking foward to it....

[@stormtrooper_jeep_zj]

The ZJ will be missed, but I look forward to seeing what you do with the LJ.

[@ryan.vision]

Definitely miss the ZJ but I'm so glad its new owner has already taken it to places I couldn't make it to like Utah and King of Hammers. The LJ should be a fun project for my local trails and maybe someday I'll make it to Utah!

[@colby1610]

Get a high pinion Dana 30 from a XJ. It’s a direct bolt in... if you’re gonna spend money on one, beefing it up, do it on a high pinion. They’re dirt cheap at the junk yard.

[@doghouse96zj92]

welcome back to the JEEP side miss your vids it was the inspiration to my build i am far from done lol and i cant wait to see what you do with this project may have to get me an LJ now lol .

[@ryan.vision]

Glad to be back man!! No matter what kinda Js we have it's gonna be fun to get some videos on here again and touch base with all you guys!! Can't wait to get back out on the trails, camping, etc.

[@justinm.791]

Just found your channel and look forward to the build. That rear bumper is badass!!!

[@ryan.vision]

If you're on Instagram check out ProjectLJ because I just painted the bumpers yesterday!

[@davidpepiton1187]

Glad you got a new project man. I will miss seeing videos on the ZJ. Look into 4 hole injectors they are a great upgrade.

[@ryan.vision]

I've heard about the 4 holes but not sure which brand or where the best place to get them.

[@davidpepiton1187]

@@ryan.vision yeah a little research will net you a good set last I remember look for them out of a dodge neon or breeze.

[@scalefreakgaming]

Looks like a great set up. Just picked myself up an LJ as well. Mine is stock, so I have a great canvas to start with.

[@ryan.vision]

Nice!! Yeah, I would have loved to find a nice stock one. Would save me a lot of time removing aftermarket parts I'm not planning to use.

[@scalefreakgaming]

RYANVISION and, I hear you on the tube bumpers. Check out channel for the LJ video of how we got it. Previous owner put the cost effective Smittybilt bumpers and side steps on to sell it. Took most of it off already.

[@mscornwell]

Hey, Ryan. Im working on my 05 LJ now as well. Its in the shop now having a Dana 44 put on the front with 456 gears and Ox lockers on both ends with a 3.5 Metalcloak lift

[@ryan.vision]

Nice!! Sounds like we'll be on pretty similar setups!! Hope it works good for us hahaha

[@Sarge0311]

I have a 2004 LJ I have had 13 years now, I am getting a low oil pressure trouble light when it gets up to temp

[@Shift1dwn5up]

Love the Lj man.Nice setup.

[@ryan.vision]

Thanks! It got some big changes lately. Check out ProjectLJ on Instagram if you have it. I'll be making some update videos very soon.

[@MrRmga420]

Check out Metalcloak. They have lots of cool armor, fenders, bumpers, suspension and more. I’d say, do the long arm 4” plus a 1” body lift to put a belly up skid, high line fenders and 40s.

[@ryan.vision]

Low on 40s is the dream but biggest I'll go on 44s will probably be 37. I'll run the 35s for a bit since they're fresh, then look into upsizing.

[@joshnasche5495]

Cool dude. Go to Genright.com for a gas tank and skid plates they have a lot. If I had that jeep I would put a 31 gallon fuel tank in it. For my jeep a few years back my dad got me pro comp xtreme mt2 tries and pro comp wheels 5 for 1500 bucks. I've enjoyed it. What engine is in the jeep now or going to keep the stock engine?

[@ryan.vision]

It has the stock 4.0 now and I'm probably going to leave it alone. Smog laws in CA are tricky so it gets pretty expensive to do an LS or Hemi swap and have it all legal.

[@sseibonnevilleman]

Mastercraft tires are same as Coopers. Good tires.

[@ryan.vision]

Did not know that!! Maybe I'll get some decent life out of them after all!

[@sseibonnevilleman]

RYANVISION I ran there old mud terrains that looked like the old BFG mud terrains and they were pretty good.

[@debbiechristie9241]

I wanted to ask about your ZJ I have one just like yours, i’m leaking between the transfer case and the transmission, but there’s no video, my Chiltons my Haynes doesn’t show how to pull the seal on the transmission side, I don’t want to damage anything, my 95 Laredo V-8 has 300,000 miles on it and I don’t want to hurt her, Do you just use a seal puller I don’t wanna hurt the bearings I see back behind it, you’re my last hope, i’m a grandma and I’ve done all my work on my jeep Laredo but i’ve never done these seals before, because you’ve owned one.

[@ryan.vision]

Sorry Debbie, wish I could help you out on that but I never had to do that seal. Do you get on Instagram at all? If so, I think you should talk to Niner_Nate about this. I think he may be able to help you as he did some transmission work on his.

[@tonyalba5561]

Glad to see you working on a Jeep again👍And not that damn piece of junk Tesla👎😠

[@ryan.vision]

Hahaha the Tesla is awesome man!! Go drive one!! The Jeep frame is cut open right now.. sooo much rust. New frame sections going on soon, then IRO long arms.

[@tonyalba5561]

Sorry Ryan I can't stand a Tesla I don't like them at all👎 But I love Jeeps 👍I own a 96 Jeep ZJ limited ! I'm a very handicapped person now and I can't work on my jeep anymore😢 Try putting a porter axle on your jeep You can do a lot with them ! 👍😎

[@MrRmga420]

Don’t waste your money on the D30!!! Please just get a good 44 like curry or teraflex. I lucked out and found my curry built D44 with chromoly shafts, thicker axle tubes, 4.56 gears, and a Detroit for $1400. It was brand new never installed (bare tubes). A little fab work on my part and it’s under my Jeep now for less than what it would have cost to rebuild and beef my stock D30.

[@ryan.vision]

I hear ya, and If I could find a deal like you did I'd be all over a 44, but so far everything has been $3000+ built. If an awesome deal doesn't come my way I might have to work with the 30 for a bit.

[@MrRmga420]

RYANVISION Save up and wait for a new front end. Leave the 30 alone. Any money you put into it is money you could put into a 44. What if you built some junkyard axles out of the Jeep. Wheel it as is and once they’re ready just swap them in. HP D44 and Ford 9” would be badass out of a ford truck. Plus you’d be full width so you wouldn’t have to run such an aggressive offset wheel to clear bigger tires

[@kotaman232]

Would you consider an engine swap? V8 POWA BABY!

[@ryan.vision]

I would LOVE to do an LS swap at some point but the tricky part is getting it all smog legal in CA.

[@pra3t0rian]

RYANVISION Jeep Speed Shop in the Sacramento area does smog legal California V8 swaps. They sell kits too if you want to do the work but you then have to take it to a referee yourself.

[@American4wdOutfitters]

6inch iro lift kit?

[@ryan.vision]

Ended up going with 4" IRO long arms which are currently being installed. Based on measurements I took off my last ZJ project, I think 4" should be really nice for this rig. If I end up scraping the belly or rockers constantly, I'll bump it up an inch or two.

[@adamrodgers6811]

Rubicons came with the 44s, unlimited had 35 in the rear and 30 in the front.

[@ryan.vision]

That's true for TJs, not LJs. Non-Rubicon LJs have 44 rear with limited slip, 30 front, and 3.73 gears. Most non-Rubicon TJs have 35 in the rear, but 44 was an option. On LJs 44 rear was standard.

[@environmenteller4442]

Bastard my zj is 6 inch lift hybrid caged coil overs fenders cut moved up jk 44 axle swaps trussed sleeved. 🤗And now you're just another Wrangler guy 🥺

[@ryan.vision]

Haha I do miss my ZJ but the LJ is looking and running a lot better now and I picked up an MJ (Comanche) as well. Haven't wheeled in a while but have lots of work for the rigs to do on the ranch.

[@weed34600]

Cooper tires owns master craft tires

[@ryan.vision]

This is really good news! Had no idea!

[@crossroadsautomotivpmc2717]

Do you still have the zj plz say you do

[@ryan.vision]

Sorry, but I did sell it in late 2018. Unfortunately I'm only able to have one project vehicle at a time so have to get rid of one to start another.

[@shawnshawn4991]

You sound like “ Nikki Sixx”

[@ryan.vision]

Never heard that one before haha